Ontario Dry Bean Variety Performance Trials now available at GOBEANS.ca

The 2011 report of Ontario Dry Bean Variety Trials is now available on the Ontario Pulse Crop Committee website at GOBEANS.CA. 
The new website includes reports for white, black and other coloured bean types.
Users can download individual or multi-location summary information, variety characteristic information and compare varieties head to head.
Growers can now easily compare varieties head to head and evaluate performance for their area.
For further information contact Brian Hall, OMAFRA, Stratford.

As dry bean fields start to ‘turn’ and begin their senescence into final maturity growers’ thoughts turn to harvest aids.  Before a grower sprays he should first check his contract terms and then with the elevator where he has his production contract — to double confirm what and when he can spray.
MRL’s (Maximum Residue Levels) have reared their head in the past few years as non tariff barriers.  Different destinations countries have different allowable MRL’s.  There are even differences in allowable levels between and among supplier countries.
Before doing anything a grower should check with the elevator he has his production contract or the elevator he intends to deliver to.

This is now the consensus after a number of summer meetings.  This theme was first put forward at the recent Canadian Special Crops meeting held in Vancouver, and then again at the US Dry Bean convention in Hilton Head South Carolina.  It was reinforced by the USDA’s latest Vegetable and Melons Outlook.  The aggregate numbers indicate a drop of 36% across most market classes with declines centred in the major classes: Pintos (-52%), Navy (-31%), and Blacks (-25%).
White Pea (Navy) bean Acres in North America may only reach 260,000 acres.  In order to attain an available  supply level that meets current expected global usage of just under 300,000 Mt. (6.2 million bags), yield will need to exceed the current projections of 1720 lb/Ac. Carry-over from 2010/11 is thought to be 1.5 million bags.  Using current yield projections plus the carry-over suggests available supplies of 5.972 million bags against an expected demand of 6.2 million.
These numbers have led to some speculation within the industry of a ‘real’ shortfall, however as one wag suggested we have never yet run out of beans.
Meanwhile reports are circulating that better weather in the major growing regions of; North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Ontario and Manitoba has and is improving production prospects.  A recent road trip and field walks this writer took confirms this for both Ontario and Michigan. However canopy size and pod set does not appear to be much better than just average. 
The market is signalling stronger prices, for the crop in the field with a $40.00/cwt ‘on the Web’ price having been posted for some time.  Indications in Michigan are currently at $48.00/cwt on open market (un-contracted white beans) for harvest delivery.  Concerns are growing for the market’s ability to convince growers to plant beans in 2012.  Advances in corn prices in particular, because of deteriorating production prospects for this year, are putting a new higher floor into the market. As one state-side grower quipped, “If they start out with a $50/cwt price I may consider growing Navies but likely won’t contract any.  I am booking (contracting) corn at better than $6/bu. cash for 2012 and ’13; anything under the mid $50’s for Navy (white) beans doesn’t give me sufficient return over the other crops, never mind my risk, time, cost and grief to grow them.”
Growers would be well advised to use some sort of comparative margin analysis or spread sheet to give them a sense of return of the various crops and not rely on polished sales pitches or hack-kneed truisms like – “beans have always been good to me!”  
A 2010 Cost of Production COP used in Michigan, to do just such an analysis can be found here.  Growers may wish to adapt something like this by tweaking it for their own use.

Ontario has, since the late seventies, had a history with the dry bean Anthracnose disease. 
At least once in every decade since the 70’s the disease has flared up and 2010 was such a flare up.  Weather, along with a lapse in, or perhaps ignored or forgotten good cultural practices all played a role in this past year’s out-break of the disease.  A good portion of the major growing region was affected – See Map

As with most diseases “an ounce of prevention staves off a pound of cure”.  Anthracnose is a seed-borne disease affecting all market classes of dry beans in the Phaseolus family.  It impacts both yield and quality.
The first line of defense is resistant varieties, of which there are few.  The second line of defense is Pedigreed Seed that has an effective seed treatment applied. 
For the upcoming 2011 crop, certified seed will be a must. 
See -  Call to use Certified seed.
Once the crop has been planted, a rigorous scouting and, if needed, follow through treatment program(s) could be a must.
Ontario dry bean growers can consult OMAFRA articles, fact sheets and info-sheets, specific to dry beans at:
Dry Edible Bean Topics
Specific topics on dry bean crop protection can be found in Chapter 5 of publication 812 Field Crop Protection Guide.

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca

Harvest is nearly complete in most areas. Yields have varied widely with planting date and seasonal rainfall. Early planted bean yields generally ranged from above average to excellent, with yields of 24 to 30 cwt/ac commonly reported for white, black, otebo and cranberry beans. Later planted bean are typically yielding less due to dry conditions during late pod fill. Adzuki bean yields have been average to good, while seed size has tended to be smaller due to dry weather during late pod fill. Anthracnose was present in most white beans at varying levels.
The full report can be read here

The western bean Cutworm monitoring program needs the help of bean producers in the province

- Peak moth flight for WBC is expected this week or next week (2-3 weeks earlier this year)

- WBC moth numbers in Ontario traps are much higher than last year

- bean growers need to scout their earliest planted fields starting this week for WBC feeding damage on the pods. If they find significant damage, they need to spray the field with Matador asap.

Please refer to the links in Tracey Baute’s “Bugblog” below for specific information.

- all bean growers are encouraged to email or call 519-784-7110.

“We need fields to do small plot research on insecticide efficacy.”

 http://bautebugblog.com/wbc-management-in-dry-beans

 http://bautebugblog.com/wbc-infosheets-and-maps

A quick and early jump on the season continues to be the norm for the 2010 planting season.  As of the first week of June good progress in seeding this year’s edible bean crop is being reported.

Reports from the Red River Valley show between two thirds (2/3) and three quarters of the intended acres are in the ground.  Similarly in Manitoba seeding completion approached 70%.  In Ontario growers had picked up nearly 65% of their seed bookings.  And in Michigan the USDA NASS field office showed the following

             Crop progress for week ending 05/30/10

  ————————————————————–

                              :  This  :  Last  :  Last  : 5-year

            Crop            :  week  :  week  :  year  :average

  ————————————————————–

                            :              Percent

Corn, planted                 :   93       85       89       94

Corn, emerged               :   80       63       55       69

Dry beans, planted       :   23        2        5        7

Oats, emerged                :  100       95       78       92

Oats, headed                  :    5         0          1        5

Soybeans, planted          :   73       50       59       77

Soybeans, emerged         :   45       22       23       38

Winter wheat, headed     :   65        8       22       33

    ———————————–

By all reports those crops and fields planted, are at, or well ahead of schedule.

The only fly in the ointment has been the weather which in these past critical days for dry beans has turned very wet.  Manitoba experienced 4-6 inches of rain, Ontario’s bean growing area also got hit but with spotty and heavy coverage.  Radar weather showed Michigan also receiving heavy showers through the bean growing zone.  The last part of the bean crop will go into the ground at teh tail end of the optimum planting window.

Minnesota had a BIG (profitable) year growing navy beans, says The Land. Some yields exceeding 3,000 lbs/acre. Contract pricing at US$27/cwt., with production costs (including land) of about $350/acre. Net profit went through the roof.
The entire story can be read here.
[Editor's note: This will be Ontario's and other North American production zones competition in the future. ]

June 30 is the last day to submit 2008 AgriStability forms and corporate Statement A forms to Agricorp.

It is also the deadline to report grain and oilseed acres for PI and RMP. Farmers must report acreage immediately upon completion of planting of spring seeded crops or by June 30, 2009, except buckwheat, which is due July 31, 2009.

June 30 is also deadline for reporting acreage for several Production Insurance (PI) plans.

For the “on line” version click here

[Editor’s note: June 30^th is also the deadline for White Pea Bean producers to declare their ‘elections’ as to whether they are growing beans to be marketed directly through a dealer or whether their production will be going through the Pool.]

The chart for drying charges for the 2008/09 Ontario White Pea Bean crop can be found here pick-chart-20081 and drychgs-2008